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On July 6, reports circulated that actress Lu Yu Xiao came under huge backlash from Zhang Ling He's fans following online rumors that she would star as the female lead in the costume drama Ci Tang (literal title). The core of the controversy centers on allegations that Lu Yu Xiao's manager interacted with anti-fans of Zhang Ling He.
As of now, neither Lu Yu Xiao nor her agency, Zhong Xing Shidai, has issued an official response.
What exactly is behind the controversy surrounding Lu Yuxiao and Ci Tang?
At the heart of the controversy is a combination of unresolved tensions stemming from collaborations between artists under the same agency and rumors surrounding the casting of a new drama, which ignited fans' emotions.
Lu Yu Xiao and Zhang Ling He are both represented by the talent agency Zhong Xing Shidai. The two previously worked together in the 2023 drama My Journey to You, where they were paired as the on-screen couple "Yese Shangqian" (夜色尚浅). Topics related to the pairing repeatedly trended on social media.
The immediate trigger for the current controversy was information recently circulated online alleging that Lu Yu Xiao's manager had interacted on social media with professional anti-fan accounts that had long been accused of spreading rumors about and attacking Zhang Ling He.
The allegations further claim that, as early as the broadcast of My Journey to You, the manager coordinated with those anti-fan accounts to promote the "Yese Shangqian" (夜色尚浅) CP and even privately contacted them to organize fan groups centered on the pairing.
According to details contained in publicly circulated allegations, the manager not only allegedly followed and commented on multiple accounts that posted negative content about Zhang Ling He and spread rumors about his personal life, but also publicly addressed a CP fan blogger in a "Stop acting crazy" tone, urging them to stop posting inappropriate content. The allegations further claim that Lu Yu Xiao herself was aware of the existence of the CP after it was mentioned by her manager.
As the online rumors continued to gain traction, the incident gradually became intertwined with rumors surrounding the casting of the costume drama Ci Tang.
Multiple entertainment bloggers have claimed that Ci Tang is using a "male lead first, female lead later" casting approach, with Zhang Ling He already confirmed as the male lead and Lu Yu Xiao reportedly the top choice for the female lead. They further allege that her agency, Zhong Xing Shidai, has been actively pushing for her to join the production. Some claims have even alleged that the agency was "holding up Zhang Ling He's contract to pressure the investors into accepting Lu Yu Xiao's casting."
It was precisely the combination of allegations that the manager had "betrayed" a fellow artist from the same agency and the prospect of the two actors being cast together again that ignited backlash from Zhang Ling He's fans.
How strong is the backlash from Zhang Ling He's fans against the rumored casting of Lu Yu Xiao in Ci Tang?
As of July 6, 2026, Zhang Ling He's fans have initiated an opposition campaign, led by his official fan club and joined by ordinary fans, explicitly calling on the production team not to cast Lu Yu Xiao in the drama.
On July 6, 2026, Zhang Ling He's Global Fan Club issued a formal public statement. In the statement, the fan club set out three primary reasons for opposing Lu Yu Xiao's rumored casting:
First, the fan club alleged that, during Lu Yu Xiao's previous collaborations with Zhang Ling He, her team repeatedly sparked public controversies that, in its view, harmed Zhang Ling He's career interests on multiple occasions.
Second, the fan club argued that Lu Yu Xiao's current public image and reputation are not a good fit for the female lead role in Ci Tang.
Third, the fan club argued that if the collaboration ultimately goes ahead, it would significantly consume/erode the market value Zhang Ling He has built up over the years, as well as the goodwill he enjoys among the general public. The statement requests that the production team and Zhang Linghe’s studio reject this partnership to protect his career and market value.
In addition to their public demands, Zhang Ling He's fans also laid out specific measures they said they would take. If Lu Yu Xiao is ultimately confirmed to join the cast of Ci Tang, they said they would refuse to support the drama's promotional activities, seek to limit the spread of behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the production across social media platforms, and discourage potential viewers through large-scale complaints and negative word-of-mouth campaigns.
In the broader public discourse, the controversy has coalesced around a clear set of demands. As of 9:00 p.m. (local time) on July 6, more than six posts had appeared among Weibo's trending topics, with both verified influencers and ordinary users calling on Lu Yu Xiao's side to have her manager issue a public apology.
What stage has Ci Tang's casting process reached, and what developments could come next?
As of July 6, 2026, the female lead for Ci Tang has not yet been officially announced, and the casting remains at a stalemate. According to reports, Linmon Pictures and Zhongxing Shidai are still engaged in ongoing negotiations, and any claims that "the female lead has been finalized" or "the female lead will not be changed" remain unverified online rumors.
According to information attributed to industry insiders, Ci Tang is indeed a key project for Linmon Pictures. Reports say the production is following a "male lead first, female lead later" casting approach, with Zhang Ling He having already passed the company's internal approval process for the male lead, while the female lead has yet to be finalized. On the one hand, Zhongxing Shidai is reportedly actively pushing for its artist, Lu Yu Xiao, to secure the role. On the other hand, due to the large-scale backlash from fans, Linmon Pictures is reportedly reassessing the potential risks and has yet to approve and sign off on the casting, leaving both sides at an impasse.
As for online claims that "the female lead will not be changed" or that "Lu Yuxiao has already secured the female lead role," as of now, neither Linmon Pictures, Zhongxing Shidai, nor the studios representing the two actors have publicly confirmed any cast details. All current casting claims originate from entertainment bloggers' reports rather than official confirmation.
Source: Sina
